. International studio. an to a prima donna. But we have still left the subjective question: Do we decide in favor of the normal man be-cause our ideas of beauty are those of the normalman himself? Would a rational insect be ableto make out a similar case for his own kind? It is inconceivable that there is not in naturea scale of difference from the most varied anddifferentiated creatures to the simplest beings. Toperceive this scale one must be at its centre. This seems evident if we imagine the loss inaesthetics to a being at either extreme—namely,the enormous giant or the tiniest microbe. T
. International studio. an to a prima donna. But we have still left the subjective question: Do we decide in favor of the normal man be-cause our ideas of beauty are those of the normalman himself? Would a rational insect be ableto make out a similar case for his own kind? It is inconceivable that there is not in naturea scale of difference from the most varied anddifferentiated creatures to the simplest beings. Toperceive this scale one must be at its centre. This seems evident if we imagine the loss inaesthetics to a being at either extreme—namely,the enormous giant or the tiniest microbe. Thefortunate being is one to whom half of nature isdiminishing and the other half is increasing—andsuch a being is man. Is it not fair to conclude that there is anintimate connection between our senses and thebeauty of the material world?—and that natureis so planned that its beauties are adapted forthe scale of our own activities? Science may need lenses, but art requires onlythe normal eve. A Home of Early Gothic. IN THE DEMOTTE GALLERIES A HOME OF EARLY GOTHICAmongst the manifold lessons im-parted by the great war, that of in-immunity occurs as we see the enemywreaking continual havoc upon sacred edificescontaining treasures of art which no restoringhand can ever give back to the world. Inani-mately Rheims Cathedral in its loss is thecounterpart of a life-freighted Lusitania. ButRheims is merely an instance of irredeemableloss that confronts one in dozens of cities along thehighways of Europe. This fane that has sur-vived centuries of mans follies and passionsseemed, judged by ordinary standards, to beimmune from destruction for centuries to come,for it is fair to surmise that no other nation inEurope would have sullied its hands with such adastardly crime. The martyrdom of Rheims isof particular import in the future preservationof art relics which enrich humanity and mustnever again be jeopardised. The gentle art of the mediaeval temple-buildershas never held more sign
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